Dear Parents and Students,
On the night following the Mid-Autumn Festival, as the sweet taste of mooncakes still lingered on my tongue, my life transformed in a single minute. Without warning, a tearing pain ripped through my abdomen. Cold sweat soaked through my clothes, and before I could even cry out, I found myself collapsed on the cold floor. In just five minutes, I journeyed from searing pain to unconsciousness.
Waking in the hospital, the sting of sutures on my lip and the throbbing ache in my face brought a sudden clarity: those five minutes could have been my final farewell.
Since childhood, I've coexisted with vasovagal syncope—a condition where intense pain triggers a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, stealing consciousness without warning. In earlier years, I had the mercy of thirty-minute warnings, allowing teachers to safely settle me in the infirmary and summon help.
During those agonizing waits, my prayers rose consistently: "God, stay with me, ease this pain, bring help quickly." Never once did He fail me. Though my faith often wavered, His words remained my foundation: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Decades of living with this condition have taught me that every trial secretly shapes my character—forging perseverance and deepening faith, both of which are much needed as recent episodes have been compressing into mere five-minute windows, eliminating any preparatory grace. The physical toll has intensified, yet at death's doorway, I discovered twofold grace.
Physically, God drew me back from death's shadow. Medical professionals emphasized my fortune in regaining consciousness so rapidly, as such collapses often cause irreversible damage. Spiritually, the stitches on my lips became divine instruction—"a time to tear, and a time to mend; a time to be silent, and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Those silent hospital days became a sacred space for reflection.
Though trials continually reshape themselves, God's faithfulness remains unchanged. Now, the stitches on my lip serve as holy reminders—each breath as grace, every word meant for blessing. As Proverbs 21:23 teaches, guarding our tongues preserves us from disaster. I've learned that speaking truth with love, nurturing others through grace, and steadfastly guiding students constitute the finest response to divine love.
Life's worth is measured not in duration, but in how fully we embody God's grace; suffering's purpose lies not in the pain it brings but in how it draws us toward God in complete surrender. Each trial becomes God's faithful invitation to discover His strength in our weakness. May we treasure each moment and boldly manifest God's love in every aspect of our lives.
Best Regards,
C. Cheung
Letter
